PHL can leverage with Saudi Arabia for better terms for OFWs — advocate

Advocates for overseas Filipino workers said the ban by Saudi Arabia to hire domestic workers is “a favorable time to avail of better protection for migrant workers." Ellene Sana of the Center for Migrant Advocacy said last week the ban is an opportune time for the Philippines and other countries to leverage for better terms with host countries. “If only these other (migrant-sending) countries can come together, and probably sit down together with Saudi, then that will be perhaps the more effective way of negotiating for better terms for our domestic workers," Sana was quoted as saying in the report by Karon Snowdon of Australia Network News. She also added that should this ban become permanent the key is to “to find other destinations that will offer better terms" for migrant workers. Starting last July 2, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Labor had imposed a ban to hiring Filipino and Indonesian domestic workers. — OFW Journalism Consortium